Agenda Item FA 10-39

Log Number: 2010/11-19

Brooks College of Health (Graduate)

Nutrition and Dietetics
Department

2010/11-019

APC 3

MS – Nutrition & Dietetics
Major

Summary of the Changes:The proposed Master
of Science Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics was submitted and approved by the
Faculty Association on 4/1/2010 and Academic Affairs on 4/9/2010 and approved by
the UNF Board of Trustees on 6/24/2010. There are currently three option areas
which will not change. Theyare the masters with internship,
masters with thesis and masters with non-thesis project. The current 41 credit
hours will be changed to 43 credit hours. As the proposed master’s degree
curriculum in nutrition & dietetics is currently taught under the MSH
degree, creation of the MS degree will not require additional funding for
courses, faculty, or other program resources.The purpose of transitioning
the concentration to a stand-alone degree program is to make it more
representative of the degree earned and more marketable to potential Registered
Dietitians who because of the newest accreditation standards (2007) will be
required to obtain a master’s degree or some specialty certification within five
years of obtaining the RD (Registered Dietitian) credential. Experienced
dietitians may advance to management positions such as assistant director,
associate director, or director of a dietetic department, or may become
self-employed. Some dietitians specialize in areas such as renal, diabetic,
cardiovascular, or pediatric dietetics. Others become sales representatives for
equipment, pharmaceutical, or food manufacturers. A master’s degree can help
professionals advance their careers, particularly in career paths related to
research, advanced clinical positions, or public health.Employment of
dietitians and nutritionists is expected to increase nine percent during the
2006-2016 projection decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Job growth will result from an increasing emphasis on disease prevention through
improved dietary habits. A growing and aging population will increase demand for
nutritional counseling and treatment in hospitals, residential care facilities,
schools, prisons, community health programs, and home health care agencies.
Public interest in nutrition and increased emphasis on health education and
prudent lifestyles also will spur demand, especially in nutrition education and
counseling and in food service management.The SUS Strategic Plan includes a
goal to meet the statewide professional and work force needs. Number two under
that goal is critical needs: health professions. While dietetics was not
included as a critical need in 2003, with the rise in childhood obesity and the
subsequent health risks, the demand for dietitians will increase. This program
directly supports that need.